My Colorado Travelings

[TripLeader]

-Aug. 2012-
I was able to spend some time in Colorado in the summer of 2012. Here's a few details about that trip...
_____
I started off in the Sangre de Cristo Range near Westcliffe. I spent the first night car-camping in the national forest near the trailhead to get to South Colony Lakes.

_____
Then I backpacked up the old four-wheel drive road, which is now closed to vehicles, to the South Colony Lakes area. I set up my camp in a site along the trail and near the creek.

_____

_____
I hiked up Humboldt Peak. It wasn't too bad at all.

_____
I always try to start before sunrise to avoid afternoon storms. It also provides good views of sunrise light. It gave me the shadow of Humboldt on Crestone Needle and Crestone Peak.

_____

_____
I ran into mountain goats along the way.

_____
The summit of Humboldt (14,065'), looking over toward the Crestones.

_____
A couple more looking at the Crestones...

_____

_____
Edit: Photos Resized.

 

[TripLeader]

-Aug. 2012-
I was able to spend one afternoon checking out an old mine in the area.

_____

_____

_____

_____


_____
If you look close at this photo of Crestone Peak (on the left) you can see the "Red Couloir" that is the route to the top. The trouble I had was that it was at an angle with a trickle of water (slippery as ice) going down it.

_____
I tried climbing Crestone Peak. I felt out of my comfort zone, so I turned around at this spot. I was probably around 13,000' is my guess.

_____
Another of the Crestones with a cairn.

_____
A couple more from that part of my trip.

_____

 

[TripLeader]

-Aug. 2012-
I came across the Beckwith Ranch, near Salida if I remember correctly. It was worth a stop.

_____

_____

_____

_____

_____

 

[TripLeader]

-Aug. 2012-
From there I went to Buena Vista. I camped along the dirt road west of Clear Creek reservoir.

_____
An Xterra coming down the trail.

_____
Buena Vista is an awesome town with lots to see and do for a relatively small place. There's a new part of town they're building that is really beautiful. You can watch people kayak down the Arkansas River.

_____

_____

 

[TripLeader]

-Aug. 2012-
A friend came out to CO while I was there, and we met up in Buena Vista. I passed some time at a cemetery while waiting for him. I found it interesting for its historical value. I've also been lucky to have been to BV a few times before, and this was one part of the town I had never visited.

_____

_____

_____

______

______

 

[roverrocks]

Very nice. Thanks

 

[TripLeader]

-Aug. 2012-
We stopped and visited the old town site of Winfield. There was an old cabin and an old cemetery. I think the old gravestone said "Hazel."

_____

_____

_____
The next part of the trip was climbing Huron Peak. It was fairly hazy at the summit.

_____
This was an old mining site near the trailhead.

_____

_____
Some other exploring later that day.

_____

 

[TechMOGogy]

Great shots!!

 

[TripLeader]

-Aug. 2012-
The next part of the trip was the Alpine Loop. We camped near Lake City. We got some good advice from the owner of a local shop. He told us to do it in a clockwise direction. That put us in the inside lane as we ascended to the top of Engineer Pass.
_____
Exploring near the old site of Carson City.

_____

_____

_____
The most remarkable ruins that we came across were at Animas Forks. The old mine there was just a fantastic sight to see.

_____

_____

_____

_____


_____
There seemed to be some old mine in every direction you looked while driving the loop.

 

[TripLeader]

-Aug. 2012-
We explored some national forest roads the day after we did the Alpine Loop. We came across a sheep herd, a yurt, and a row of solar panels.

_____

______

_____
After that, I was back to solo camping.

_____
I moved on to Ouray to climb Mt. Sneffels. The day I climbed turned out to be a beautiful day. Lots of good views, and yes that is a toaster on the summit.

_____

_____

_____

_____

 

[TripLeader]

-Aug. 2012-
Then I headed east and ended up near Grays & Torreys. The plan was to climb them both at once, but I was concerned about the weather. I headed down after I climbed Grays, and left Torreys for another trip.
_____
Looking at Grays the day I climbed, and the next day when I left.

_____

____
On the way home, I stopped in western Kansas and visited Monument Rocks. For details and photos, check out my other thread about it.
http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/threads/120784-Monument-Rocks-National-Natural-Landmark
____
Well, that's about it. If I get some more time, I'll try to add my summer 2013 Colorado trip.

 

[NMC_EXP]

Nice Photos. The Wet Mtn Valley and Sangre de Cristo Range is one of my all time favorite areas for scenery.

The Beckwith Ranch is a few miles north of Westcliffe on US Hwy 50. My brother lives near there.

Regards

Jim

 

[FinsUp]

Nice photos, good write up.

 

[SIZZLE]

Toaster, huh? Well i guess that makes sense...

Pretty country. Thanks for sharing!

 

[ex-coloradan]

Nice Jeep